8 Reasons to Stay in a Bad Job Until You Land a Good One

Should you stay or should you go?

If you feel stuck in a job you’re unhappy at, you can pursue one of two options: you can resign and begin exploring new career options or you can begin to search for a new job while remaining employed in your current role.

It’s always tough, especially when you’re really bummed about where you are and are itching to get out fast and find something better. But pursuing a new job while you’re still employed has a lot of advantages over quitting and searching.

As much as you may dread your current job, you should resist the urge to impulsively throw in the towel before you think about the positive aspects of your current employment. While it may seem difficult to find anything satisfying about your current job, it’s important to carefully consider the benefits of your current job before submitting your resignation. Below are eight reasons why you should consider staying at a job you dislike.

1. Employers often gravitate toward candidates who are currently employed.

Employers often prefer to hire candidates who are currently working. Employed job candidates are often viewed as more desirable and are less likely to seem overly eager during interviews.

2. You’ll be in a stronger position to negotiate if you receive a job offer.

Employed job seekers can use their existing income and benefits as bargaining chips during negotiations. Hiring managers know that you do not actually need the job for which you are interviewing, which further increases your negotiating power.

3. You can take advantage of job-related training opportunities to bolster your resume.

Many companies require employees to receive continuing education to ensure that they are equipped with the latest techniques and safety training. The costs of this kind of training are usually covered by employers but would be the financial responsibility of the job seeker for unemployed job seekers.

4. You’ll continue to earn income.

This may seem obvious but it shouldn’t be overlooked. You should seriously rethink quitting your job unless you have good job prospects or several months of savings. Remaining in a job you dislike is unpleasant but at least you don’t have to deal with the financial strain that can come with unemployment.

5. You’ll still be able to receive benefits and contribute to existing retirement plans.

If you’ve got benefits, you may want to consider staying with your job until you find something better. One of the primary reasons why people stick with jobs they don’t like is their ability to continue to receive health care insurance and contribute money to job-sponsored retirement plans.

6. Your job skills will stay sharp.

Maintaining your skill set will enables you to hit the ground running faster than a new hire who has been out of the game and has become rusty. If you do decide to resign from your position, you’ll need to stay on top of maintaining your job skills to be able to compete with employed job seekers who are putting their skills to use every day.

7. You can continue to make new contacts through your job.

Regardless of how you may view your current employment, your job offers daily opportunities to meet new contacts who may prove to be helpful to you in your job search. You may even meet a new contact who is searching for a new hire with your exact skill set.

8. You can still search for a new job while you are employed.

The time after your work hours are always yours. Use them to network, go to events and get your name out there. Just make sure that your job search activities don’t jeopardize your current employment status. You don’t want to end your tenure at a job, even a job you don’t like, on a sour note.

The Bottom Line

No wants to stay in a job that makes them miserable a moment longer than they have to. But while having a bad job can wreak havoc on your quality of life, most career experts recommend that people remain employed while initiating a job search. Don’t be unhappy, get out of that job but look before you leap.